Present Inequalities

Christmas is the time for giving. *As long as the person your are giving to spent the same amount of money on your present as you did theirs. It seems this is the case quite often, but it really shouldn't be. Some say that it is the thought that counts and that is probably true. But if someone gives us an expensive gift it can be hard for us to accept it graciously, despite the fact a gracious acceptance is all the giver really wants in return. Instead givers may get the disappointing, "this is too much." This seemingly common response I do not fully understand. Everyone likes getting stuff, but when we do get gifts we can feel some sort of inferiority if we did not respond in kind. Perhaps expensive gift giving is subconsciously interpreted as some sort of status ranking, when most of the time it is just an attempt by one person to make another person happy. Everyone wants to be the good giving person, but if no one will be a good recipient then giving loses all of its value.